India, Nov. 17 -- Cybercrime investigators warn of a rapid surge in social media advertisements luring people into renting out their bank accounts - turning them into 'mule accounts' used to move proceeds of online fraud. The advertisements, posted across popular platforms, promise effortless monthly income in exchange for "temporarily lending" bank accounts. Police say these offers are anything but harmless, and are now central to a growing web of organised cybercrime.

Cyber cell officers say mule accounts have become critical for criminals running online investment scams, phishing operations, sextortion rackets, illegal betting networks, and predatory loan apps. With stricter KYC norms making it difficult to open accounts with fake ide...